:Midas and t lie (j o {den Wis Ii

Miriam Hodgson

King Midas owned everything a man could wish for, but his most prized possession was his daughter, Philomena. She was his youngest child and the loveliest. Her eyes were darkest brown, her hair fell softly round her face like silk. Her skin was as soft as velvet. She sang like a nightingale and danced like a butterfly. But her most wonderful gift was her smile. When Philomena smiled everyone became happy. Her name meant, 'I am loved'.

One day Philomena came running to Midas. 'Father, there is a strange man at our gates.'

Midas took Philomena by the hand, and walked to the gate. There stood Silenus, the teacher of the god Dionysus.

Midas welcomed him: 'Silenus, I am honoured by your visit. Come in and rest from your journey.'

Midas sent for servants to look after Silenus. He ordered the finest wines and food to be prepared for a banquet for his guest. Musicians and dancers entertained the visitor and the gentle splashing of fountains lulled him to sleep.

Silenus was grateful. The next day when he took leave of Midas, he said to the king, 'King Midas, you have given me so much. I cannot leave without making you a present in return. What do you wish for?'

Midas thought and thought. He was a greedy man and yet now, when he had such an opportunity to fulfil his wildest dreams, he did not know what to ask for. What about the finest horse in the world? What about a palace that would be famous as one of the wonders of the world? At last he spoke:

'Silenus, you are too generous, I cannot think of anything unless ... '

'Well, come on, speak your wish,' commanded Silenus.

'No, I - er, I cannot,' Midas hesitated again, trying to sound as if he wanted nothing when he really wanted more than a man had the right to ask for.

'Are you sure?' asked Silenus, with his cunning eyes gleaming.

'I, er ... need more time,' said Midas.

'Very well,' replied Silenus. 'I must leave you now, but remember my gift. Your wish will be granted whatever it may be.'

****

Midas strolled under the trees, shaded from the brilliant sun. Suddenly he looked up at the sky. He gazed at the sun's rays and thought:

'The light of the sun is so wonderful. It seems that everything it touches turns to gold. How I wish I had such power!'

Midas returned to his throne room. He called to a servant to bring him water. The servant returned with a bronze cup. As Midas touched it, it turned to gold. He was dumbfounded until he remembered. 'My wish, my wish! Silenus has kept his promise. But have I really the power to turn everything I touch to gold?'

Midas ran round the room touching the pillars, the tables, the chairs. They all turned instantly to gold.

'It works, it works!' he cried. 'I shall be the wealthiest man the world has ever known!'

He danced, he shouted, he ran through his palace touching everything he could. Soon the palace was ablaze with golden light. 'How rich I am!' he shouted in triumph.

Exhausted, he returned to his throne room and sat down. He lifted the golden cup to his mouth. No water poured on to his parched lips, only a bitter, golden powder.

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'Bring me wine!' he demanded. 'This water tastes like mud. Bring me peaches!' A servant returned with wine and a bowl of fruit. King Midas picked up a peach but as he bit into it he screamed, 'This peach is as hard as stone!' He looked at it, and it too had turned to gold. Midas was crowing with pride. 'I am so rich,' he shouted.

Dazzled by the light flashing from the golden throne and the pillars all around him, deaf to everything except the sound of his own thoughts, he did not see Philomena coming towards him: 'Father, what is all this?' Midas bent down to lift her into his arms. 'Philomena, look, look around you. Is it not wonderful? Everything I touch turns to gold!'

But Philomena could say nothing. She too had turned to gold. Midas looked down at Philomena.

He touched her face, but her skin was like ice, her hair felt like thorns, her smile was an ugly grin. His tears fell so that they formed golden blisters on her cheeks.

'What have I done? Dionysus, forgive my greed! Philomena is more precious to me than all this gold could ever be.'

****

For many days and nights King Midas lay weeping on the ground, until his tears formed a golden pool beside him. Seeing his despair, Dionysus took pity on him. He ordered the king to bathe in the River Pactolus. Midas dragged himself to the river. The waters took away his terrible gift and for ever after the sands on the river bed glittered with gold.

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Midas walked humbly back to his palace, stopping from time to time to touch a tree or a stone. His touch did not change them. As he neared the palace garden, he saw a girl dancing as lightly as a butterfly, he heard a laugh as sweet as the nightingale's song and saw a smile that warmed away his unhappiness. It was Philomena.

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